Publicly, he’s been quiet and downright reclusive for years – a stark change for a man known for bedazzled tank tops, a loud, upbeat demeanor and eagerly handing out hugs. But one-time fitness icon and New Orleans native Richard Simmons has broken that silence.
And he did so with a song.
Simmons, 75, surprised his followers on Facebook, a group that totals over 400,000 people, by suddenly releasing an original song called “Aerobique.”
“I have a gift for you. I wrote many songs with my partners Chris and Kathy Phillips.
Most people have never heard them. Please share these with your friends,” Simmons wrote when he posted the tune online. “We will put them up a few at a time so you don’t get tired of my voice. Love, Richard.”
Even though he has kept to himself for an extended period of time, he’s found his way into the news anyway in recent years.
A TMZ documentary attempted to delve into Simmons’s disappearance from public life last year, and in recent months, a short film featuring Pauly Shore portraying Simmons – a role that Simmons said he did not endorse – made its way to YouTube.
But this new song has allowed Simmons to put something out into the world himself, and his fans have taken to the comments section of the video to show their appreciation.
You can hear “Aerobique” by Richard Simmons by clicking the video below.